Twin Lakes Redux October 14 - 17 2018

Once again we reserved a lakefront campsite at the Army Corps of Engineers park in Pendleton, SC, for a boating/camping three day getaway.  While Bob checked and loaded boat, truck, and trailer, I packed daily essentials and fun things.  We left Sunday afternoon for a 3 o'clock check-in.  Bob pulled the trailer and I followed in my car.  I noticed the rear tires on the trailer were leaning in, which meant the axle problem had not been resolved, despite Bob's attempts to straighten it.  That was something that would need to be fixed when we got home if we are to travel to New Jersey as planned.  After the trailer was unhooked and set up, Bob returned for the boat (our house is about 20 miles from the park) while I put away our gear.  We were able to enjoy a nice campfire at night and relax a bit.

View of Lake Hartwell from  living area window in trailer

"Me, Man.  Make-um fire."

We were going to dock the boat at the shore by the campsite, but the water was too shallow, and we would have to wade out too far to get into the boat.  So, we decided to launch and re-trailer it as needed.  Our outings wouldn't be ours if there wasn't some sort of glitch.  Bob got the boat off the trailer and into the water.  I drove the  truck and trailer into a parking space.  I heard Bob call out, "I don't have the key."  He was drifting out to the lake since he couldn't start the motor.  I frantically searched for the boat key, found it and got down to the ramp while he was pulling himself closer to shore with the help of buoy lines.  I thought he was close enough for me to throw him the key, so I did.  Unfortunately, despite my baseball skills, I threw like a girl.  Luckily Bob was able to catch the key ring before it went overboard and into the lake.  Big whew!!!  After that, all went smoothly, and we had a pleasant few hours on the lake, even without being able to catch a fish. 

Wake looks pretty, doesn't it?  I could picture Carol skiing behind us.

Can't help smiling being on the water.  My t-shirt reads, "Here, fishy, fishy". Too bad fish can't read.

A spot like this is usually a good place to fish.  Usually.  Not today.

This is our campsite.  You can see it would have been difficult to moor and get into the boat here.

A few miles up from the camp is Clemson University.  This is Tiger Stadium which can be seen from the Clemson Marina area.

The heron didn't have any better luck finding fish either!

 

The next day, Bobby, Valerie, and Honey were able to join us.  Forecast was for 60% chance of rain, but the weather stayed clear until late afternoon.

Valerie agreed there is nothing much better than time on the water.

And Bobby said there's nothing much better than a day fishing, even if you don't catch any.

Back on shore, we had a picnic lunch and then played pinochle until a storm broke out.

It was like a micro burst of wind and rain.  Bob and Bobby hurried to take down the awning before it ripped apart.  Here Bob is assuring  Honey and Roscoe that all is ok.  We played one more game of cards, and then company left...champions of the day having won all three games.  The next morning, we reversed the process.  Bob drove the boat to our house while I secured things in the trailer.  When he returned, he hooked up the trailer, and I followed him back home.  All in all, it was a very nice trip.







More Hrabovsky Time September - October 2018

Brother Bobby and SIL Valerie got back to Lavonia after a shortened stay at their place in Maine.  They came back a little earlier than planned because of the concern about Hurricane Florence, and also to be home for grandson Owen's 7th birthday October 3. 

 

Sunday while Bob recuperated from the trip and his lack of sleep, I went to Lavonia where Owen was having an early birthday celebration.  I had forgotten my camera, so this blurry photo of O and Valerie was taken with my cell phone.

School was out for a teachers' conference, so Owen spent a few days with Grand Dad and Nana Vee.  They came over to our house Friday afternoon for some pool time to escape the unseasonably warm weather that has persisted.

Water temp was almost 80; air temp 90!!

Valerie thought Honey could use a cool dip, too.

Roscoe and Bob decided to sweat it out.

Saturday we went to Little Cane Creek Corn Maze in West Union, about 15 miles from us.  But, Owen was running a fever, and with the high heat and humidity, we decided to get some hot dogs and pass on the out door activities.

Owen finished his hot dog and said he was ready to go home.

                                                     And Valerie said, "That's all folks!" 



Visits with Joe & Bev September 2018

To our surprise and delight, Joe and Bev were once again going to Kiawah Island for a week's stay at a house son Jeff and daughter-in-law Kate rented.  So, they stopped in to see us Thursday afternoon.   The next morning, we met at a Cracker Barrel in Anderson before they continued on down to the resort.  On Monday,  even more to our surprise and delight,  Joe called to invite us to Kiawah for Friday.  Being that pets are not allowed at the rental, we decided to take the trailer to a campground outside of Charleston for Thursday and Friday nights.  We thought we could connect with friends while there, too, but that didn't work out.  Despite our usual "if it weren't for bad luck, we'd have no luck at all", we were able to connect with Joe and family for a few hours.

Bev, Joe, and I outside Cracker Barrel.  It was the first time I've been to a Cracker Barrel where there was no wait!!!

Yep, that's Bob getting ready to change a flat on the trailer.  About an hour out of Seneca, a trailer tire on the driver's side blew.  The shredded rubber tread broke off part of the wheel fender and just missed breaking a window.  Luckily, the tire held air long enough for Bob to get off the interstate and to a place where he could safely put on the spare.  Realizing there was a problem with the axle on the trailer, he didn't drive over 60 mph the rest of the way, making for a very long ride, and also changing our plans.  Attending to the trailer  took priority.

 

Lake Aire is a very pretty campground, but we had no time to enjoy.  We found a tire shop about 10 miles down the road from the park where Bob was able to get two tires Friday morning.  The owner said he would fix the axle the next morning, if it wasn't raining.  We were there just as he opened, but because it had started to rain, he wouldn't do the work.  So, we were back on the road holding our breaths the whole trip back.  Good thing prayers work!  

There is always a silver lining, and this one is in my arms...meeting six month old Jake.  He is such a happy boy.  Kate said she and Jeff couldn't have asked for a more perfect baby.

 

And baby Jake couldn't have asked for more perfect parents!

 ...or grand parents. Joe and Bev love having a new grand baby to spoil. 

Before taking us to lunch, Joe wanted to show us the  beach

Joe and family love the wide expanse that is so secluded.

Lunch at a Mexican restaurant at the resort, and then we were on our way back to Lake Aire to pack up for the trip home the next day.

 

 



Gwen's Visit September 6 - 13, 2018

Bob's sister Gwen drove down from Ohio on Thursday, September 6th to spend a week with us.  Plans were to go boating and fishing, but as the old saying goes, "Man plans; God laughs."  Hurricane Florence decided to make her appearance just about the same time.  We were supposed to hook up with friends in Calabash, NC, after Gwen's visit, but upon hearing Florence was expected to make landfall about 40 miles north of there, we cancelled the trip. We secured our house and also Bobby's and Valerie's in Lavonia since they were up in Maine.  As it turned out, Florence's track turned, and we had almost nothing from the storm.  Gwen was able to head home as she originally planned. 

Saturday morning, Gwen and I went to the Apple Festival in Westminster.  We wisely went early in the morning to avoid crowds and the 90 degree heat.

Sunday weather was still too "iffy" to go boating, so we went to South Cove County Park and tried to entice some fish to eat our worms.

The fish weren't interested in Bob's worms either.

Although the storm track went east of us, it was overcast for the rest of Gwen's visit.  We went to a flea market in Rabun Georgia and did some shopping around town, but mostly we were couch potatoes until it was time for her to head north.  Still in all, it was great seeing her.  



Jalopies and junk trucks Summer 2018

You may recall that Bob bought a 1950 Ford pick up truck last July with the hopes of making it into a "rat rod" (hot rod that isn't so hot).  He has been working on that since he brought it home and still has more to go, but it is coming along nicely.  Last week he arranged to buy a 1994 Dodge Dakota pickup from my brother's neighbor.  The truck had broken down and had been parked along the road across from Bobby's house for the last year.  Bob considers it an "investment gamble".  Either he will be able to fix it and sell it or junk the junker.

July 8, 2017

After months of body work and primer, Bob begins paint job

July 28, 2018

Dakota clunker

Bob finally decides to cool in the pool 

Long Time Friends Pay a Visit - June 2018

Our friends Paul and Jay had been promising to pay us a visit, and the weekend after we helped my brother move, they did come.  They had just spent a week with their family at a cabin in Helen, GA.  When they realized they were only about an hour away from us, they came for the weekend before heading home to Calabash, NC, instead of coming later in the summer as originally planned.  Unfortunately, neither Jay nor Bob were feeling 100% so we decided to just hang out instead.

Jay and I have been friends since 8th grade.

Here Paul and Jay are toasting with Padron tequila in honor of the golden anniversary of Jay's and my epic 10,000 mile journey across the United States from Jersey to California.  I haven't had tequila since 1968 when Jay and I both experienced the worst hang over ever, so I had to pass on this toast!  If all goes well, we will connect again in September when we go to Calabash.

The Lake House at Lavonia - June 2018

After months and months of work to put their Florida house on the market and searching for a home in Georgia, my brother Bobby and sister in law Valerie were finally able to make it all happen.  They found a house on Lake Hartwell in Lavonia that they loved and was virtually move-in ready.  Their house in Largo sold within two weeks of the For Sale sign being put up.  And miraculously, both closings took place on the same day, June 15th.   That weekend, we helped them move in, joined by niece Jenna and her friend Mark.

Bobby was able to get the U-Haul almost to the front door which made it quite a bit easier to unload.

Bob the Builder was put to work while Valerie opened the packing crates that Bobby, Jenna, and Mark unloaded.  In addition to being the designated photographer of this epic event,  I was also enlisted to clean and volunteered to cater the meals for Friday and Saturday.

 

Bobby and Jenna take a moment to rest their backs and decide what needs to be done next....

while Bob and Mark take a breather.

This stunning fireplace was one of the house's features that made it irresistible. 

As did the lake access seen from their back deck...

...the privacy, solitude, and visitors.

 

 



Twin Lakes Getaway May 2018

A couple of weeks after Gwen and Ellen's visit,  we decided to take a boating/camping trip at one of the local Army Corps of Engineer parks on Lake Hartwell:  Twin Lakes.   This Corps park is about 20 miles from us, so it was convenient to make one trip to drop off the travel trailer, come back to the house, and then tow up the boat.  We were really looking forward to being able to moor the boat at the campsite, jump in the boat and take off fishing.  But, when we put the boat in the water, it wouldn't start.  Bob and I had to get waist deep into the lake and literally push the boat back onto the trailer.  Two fishermen were just bringing their boat back to the ramp, but neither offered to help in any way...not even ask if they should call the park ranger.  All one guy said was, "Not a good way to start the day."  Yeah, tell us about it, buddy.   We stayed the night, but decided to head back home the next day since the main intent of the outing was to go boating/fishing.  Back home, Bob found the problem was that a short in the trolling motor had drained the batteries.

The Corps sites are quite spacious and clean, and at $12/night with our senior discount, you can't beat the price!

Undaunted, Bob tried his luck fishing from the shore.  Even though the trip didn't pan out as we hoped it might, it was still great to be on the lake.

 

    

 

Garden Projects Spring 2018

When we moved in last year we focused mainly on the interior of the house.  This spring I wanted to have a vegetable garden and more flower gardens.  Notice I do the wanting.  Bob does the doing.

Bob made these two garden beds on the east side of the house.  We planted a blackberry bush, a blueberry bush and cucumbers in the one nearest the porch and patty pan (white summer squash) and string beans in the farther one.  We had bumper crops of cukes and beans.  The squash is just now ready to pick.  The berries probably won't produce until next year, but we are looking forward to those. 

In the "north forty", Bob made a box with landscape timbers for the forsythia plant, some day lilies and caladium.

We decided the north forty could use a willow tree, too.  It will be fun to watch it grow.

Bob also added a border of landscape timbers for the hydrangea, day lilies, azalea and gladiola plants in front.

The gladiola were magnificent, but the wind battered the stems, so I cut some before they got ruined.

And overnight, this Mexican sombrero appeared.